The American Cancer Society is marking the 38th Great American Smokeout on November 16 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit.

In the more than 50 years since the Surgeon General's first report on smoking and health, cigarette smoking among US adults has been reduced by approximately half.

Over 16,000 people die each year but 21 percent of MI adults and 12 percent of MI youth still smoke cigarettes.

Health officials say tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in MI. Reports show that approximately two-thirds of adult smokers say they want to stop smoking cigarettes, and about one-half tried to quit in the preceding year. However, in 2016, more than one in seven US adults were current cigarette smokers (3). Obtaining effective help through counseling and use of medications can increase the likelihood of quitting by as much as threefold.

Information and support for quitting smoking is available by telephone at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).